I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.

For with much wisdom is much sorrow;

as knowledge increases, grief increases.

Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the king’s successor[fn] be like? He[fn] will do what has already been done.

And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.

The wise person has eyes in his head,

but the fool walks in darkness.

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both.

So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise? ” And I said to myself that this is also futile.

For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise person dies just like the fool?

Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.

When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong.

For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors at under the sun?

For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy[fn][fn] his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,

because who can eat and who can enjoy life[fn] apart from him?[fn]

For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him.

I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every work.”

I said to myself, “This happens so that God may test the children of Adam and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”

For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.

I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?[fn]

For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.

For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words.

When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow.

Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?

For many dreams bring futility; so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.

When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes?

Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward.

for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness.

What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?

For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for mankind?

For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?

Grief is better than laughter,

for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad.

for like the crackling of burning thorns under the pot,

so is the laughter of the fool.

This too is futile.

Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool,

and a bribe corrupts the mind.

Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry,

for anger abides in the heart of fools.

Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these? ”

since it is not wise of you to ask this.

because wisdom is protection as silver is protection;

but the advantage of knowledge

is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

Consider the work of God,

for who can straighten out

what he has made crooked?